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Thursday, 1 January 2015

Sentinels Of Varnuse 2: Wind Walkers [1]

#1

As Vayne made his way through the ever thickening
forest he sensed he was being followed—and followed by a man he didn’t want to
see right now or ever again. He hated
knowing they had something in common. He didn’t want to share he never had.

“What the fuck are you here for?” Vayne growled
over his shoulder, hoping like hell his unwelcome companion would turn around
and go back to where he came from.

Arron sighed dramatically, “You know why. Simian belongs to me just as
much as he belongs to you. Why would you think I’d let you go off alone and
look for him. I’m not a coward. I’m willing to help you search.”

Vayne spun around and glared at the younger man.
“Stop saying that. Simian is my mate.
Mine! Given to me by Varnuse. I’ve
never even heard of people mating more than one person. So go find your own
mate.”

Arron chuckled, “I can claim the same damn thing as you Varnuse gave me to Simian just
as he did you. Stop denying what the world already knows. We both wear Simian’s
mark. He doesn’t belong to us—we both
belong to him.” Arron pushed up his sleeve and bared his forearm so the
sunlight shimmered across the exact same marking Vayne knew adorned his own
forearm.

“But I don’t have to like it.” Vayne growled.

He still hated sharing.

“No,” Arron sighed again, “You just have to accept
it. Remember it was our constant fighting over Simian that allowed him to be
kidnapped in the first place. If we had learned to get on and share his love
then he would still be with us. I won’t rest until we get him back.”

“Can you just shut up for five-fricken-minutes? You
are more annoying than a Juju bug in the morning.” Vayne stared at Arron and it
struck him right then that he’d never before really looked at Arron—never took
the time to notice what he truly looked like. Arron stared back calmly and
Vayne could almost feel himself being pulled into those pale green eyes that
seemed to see everything. They were so clear he swore he could see his own
reflection. Arron’s skin was pale and flawless and his lips looked soft and
plump. Vayne fought not to smile as those perfect lips pouted in his direction.
Taking a deep breath Vayne asked. “Okay, now how pissed do you think Josep is
going to be at us?”

“It’s not Josep we have to worry about. You know
Lucas is the one who’ll kick our arses. That man may act like a pacifist, but
he’s the fiercest one of us all.” Arron shuddered and took a step towards him.

Vayne took a step back, “Lucas will understand. He
knows what Simian means to me.” When Arron glared at he corrected himself, “I
meant to us. Lucas knows what Simian means to us.”

“Yes, it’s best you remember there are three of us
in this little love fest. When and I do mean when we get our mate back we need
to try for his sake not to kill each other. It hurts him when we argue.”

Vayne and Arron froze as they heard someone or
something making their way towards them. Vayne reached out and pulled Arron
behind him, while his free hand was wrapped around the hilt of his knife as he
waited. Even though Arron was grumbling softly behind him he knew the man would
be just as ready in case trouble came their way. A sentinel stepped out of the
trees and stopped before them.

“Aren’t you a bit lost, brother?” Vayne asked not
letting down his guard in case the king had sent men out to bring them in. He
wasn’t going to allow something like that to happen. He wasn’t going home—not
without Simian at his side.

“My name is Dominic Bourke.” The man said.

A growl erupted from his throat when he felt Arron
move behind him. “If you have come for either Arron or myself, then we are
taken. You would be best off going home where you belong. Sentinel or not the
woods are dangerous for those unfamiliar with them.”

Dominic stood a little straighter. “I never came
here for either of you. I came because Lucas told me I must. He also told me
that my destiny lies in wherever you are going. He said it’s now time for my
story to unfold. That you and Arron were to guide me.”

Vayne couldn’t stop the grin as Arron strode over
and pushed up Dominic’s sleeve and sighed in relief when he saw the forearm. “He
bears a mark, but it’s not the same as ours.

”

“It’s okay, Arron,” Vayne chuckled, “fate would not
give Simian another mate for us to contend with.” Shaking his head he turned in
the direction they were going. “I just wished that we had found Ormand before
we left… maybe we could have gotten something worthwhile out of him.” Arron bit
his lip and Vayne knew he wasn’t going to like whatever it was he was going to
hear.

“Yeah, about that… I may have killed Ormand just a
little bit.”

“You did what?” Vayne demanded. Belated panic raced
through him at the thought of Arron being hurt. He may not want the guy to
share his mate—it didn’t mean he wanted the guy to be harmed in any way.

When Arron refused to look at him for the longest
of times He wasn’t sure what he was going to hear. So many emotions ran across
the guys face and not all of them were good. Finally after an eternity Arron
spoke.

“He shouldn’t have put his hands on you. I saw you
at the tavern. I saw him touching you. The idiot should have known you were off
limits.”

Vayne studied his companion trying to figure the
guy out. “You don’t like me, and yet you killed Ormand because he touched me?”

“I never said I didn’t like you. You’re the one who
is hell bent on arguing all the time. I actually listened when Simian explained
things to us—maybe you should have too.”

“As touching as this is, maybe we should get a move
on. As you said these woods can be a dangerous place and nightfall seems to be
heading our way fast.” Dominic said interrupting the conversation they were
having.

Looking up through the trees to the darkening sky
Vayne had to agree with the man. They needed to find shelter. Somewhere where they
could light a fire and keep away the more dangerous creatures of the night. He also needed
time to digest the conversation he’d just had with Arron. He knew when Simian
was back with them he’d have to change his ways if he wanted their relationship
to last.